Associate Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
Closing date: 17 May 2026
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced communications leader to join our senior leadership team. In this pivotal role, you will shape and execute our communications strategy, enhancing our public profile and ensuring clear, effective messaging across all internal and external channels. You will be committed to bringing our values to life, producing exceptional communication campaigns and building relationships to inspire your team. You will be confident working in a complex, fast-paced environment with high levels of public and media scrutiny. Join us in making a meaningful impact on mental health in our community.
Main duties of the job
* To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of the Trust's communications strategy, and stakeholder and community engagement plan, that support the Trust's strategic objectives and build the Trust's reputation as a leading organisation within the NHS
* To ensure that relationships with key stakeholders are maintained and proactively developed
* To oversee the development and delivery of communications and engagement plans to support major trust-wide projects, providing leadership and expert advice
* To work with senior managers to identify and develop communications campaigns to support the organisation in meeting its strategic objectives
* To ensure that all communications materials and channels help build the Trust's reputation as a leading organisation within the NHS, that they are correctly tailored for the appropriate target audiences, including hard to reach audiences, and are in line with the Trust's overall communications strategy
* To ensure the Trust brand and visual identity are developed and protected, including supporting other staff in the correct application of corporate style guidelines, ensuring compliance and addressing inconsistencies
* To ensure the organisational internal and external channels are kept up-to-date with the relevant information from the clinical programmes and workstreams
* To develop and maintain the Trust's Trust and Reputation dashboard and provide analysis
About us
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family.
We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at South London and Maudsley. It is important to us that you feel valued and appreciated and that is why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.
Some of our benefits include:
* Generous pay, pensions and leave, with a comprehensive package
* Work life balance, flexible working and support for flexible options such as part-time working and job sharing
* Career development, opportunities to progress through mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
* Car lease and other deals; key-worker housing available on selected sites
NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands through the Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
* Counselling services
* Long service awards
* Cycle to work scheme
* Season ticket loan
* Staff restaurants
Job responsibilities
Leadership and strategy
* Lead the communications and stakeholder engagement team, setting agreed programmes of work and objectives in line with the overall communications strategy
* Advise senior colleagues, including the Trust Board, on strategic communications and related issues, writing briefs and reports for senior colleagues
* Provide advice and guidance to the Trust Board, Chief Executive and the senior leadership team in accordance with current legislation, NHS initiatives, DHSC guidance and communications best practice
* Be an active participant in developing the department's annual strategic plan, and other planning as required
* Be the accountable lead for stakeholder relations and public affairs activity that builds the Trust's reputation within the NHS, ensuring media activity aligns with the overall stakeholder and community engagement plan
* Connect with peers across the South East London Integrated Care System (and beyond) to situate South London and Maudsley in the broader narrative of improving healthcare and lives in south east London
* Be aware of, promote and encourage adoption of new and emerging technologies and media platforms
* Audit activity on an ongoing basis and devise action plans to improve. Work with the Director of Communications and Engagement to identify, record and manage risks and issues; deputise for the Director where appropriate
Job description
Job responsibilities
* Leadership and strategy
* Lead the communications and stakeholder engagement team, setting agreed programmes of work and objectives in line with the overall communications strategy
* Advise senior colleagues, including the Trust Board, on strategic communications and related issues, writing briefs and reports for senior colleagues
* Provide advice and guidance to the Trust Board, Chief Executive and the senior leadership team in accordance with current legislation, NHS initiatives, DHSC guidance and communications best practice
* Be an active participant in developing the department's annual strategic plan, and other planning as required
* Be the accountable lead for stakeholder relations and public affairs activity that builds the Trust's reputation as a leading organisation within the NHS, ensuring media activity aligns with the overall stakeholder and community engagement plan and maximum exposure
* Connect with peers across the South East London Integrated Care System (and beyond) to situate South London and Maudsley in the broader narrative of improving healthcare and lives in south east London
* Be aware of, promote and encourage adoption of new and emerging technologies and media platforms
* Audit activity on an ongoing basis and devise action plans to improve. Work with the Director of Communications and Engagement to identify, record and manage risks and issues; deputise for the Director where appropriate
Management (including finance and resources)
* Directly line-manage the Senior Communications Manager, and Stakeholder and Public Affairs Manager, including performance, annual leave and sick leave
* Responsible for the day-to-day management and direction of the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team
* Management of recruitment activity for vacant posts within the team, ensuring training compliance
* Budgetary responsibility for the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team, allocating financial and staff resources to projects, managing spend within the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions
* Strive for value for money and greater efficiency in budgets and ensure recurrent financial balance year on year
* Track expenditure on communication and media activities and provide reports to the Director of Communications and Engagement
* Manage third parties (suppliers) to ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner and within budget
* Commission and brief designers, communications agencies and external suppliers; ensure expenditure stays within budget
* Ensure administrative and financial integrity as required in a public sector organisation
Reputation management
* Deliver creative communication campaigns and materials and engagement activities that build the Trust's reputation
* Maintain the Trust's Trust and Reputation dashboard and provide key metrics
* Undertake market research to measure trust and reputation
* Horizon scan for opportunities to raise profile externally
* Make reputational decisions to support the Trust Board
* Lead on media management for the Trust, including proactive and reactive lines to take
* Provide advice and engagement support to serious incident investigations and inquests
* Manage the organisation's reputation; brief senior managers and frontline staff on potential issues
* Analyze data to highlight issues and support decisions on reputation and stakeholder management
* Brief Executive and Senior Management teams on media and reputational issues
* Develop crisis communications handling plans and involve wider team in delivery
* Act as a spokesperson when appropriate and lead internal and external events
* Embed the Trust's values in all activities and underpin all communications and stakeholder activities
Clinical communications (including patient information)
* Maintain and develop clinical communications that inform and inspire colleagues in line with strategic priorities
* Lead strategic aspects of clinical communications, including development, delivery and evaluation of strategies and plans
* Develop and maintain patient information approaches and audit patient information materials for accuracy and quality
* Lead operational responsibility for clinical communications activities
* Influence and persuade senior colleagues on complex communications issues
* Engage with colleagues across the Trust to monitor and improve internal communications
* Encourage the clinical communications team to be creative and ambitious, adopting best practices from any sector
* Embed the Trust's values in all clinical messages
Stakeholder engagement
* Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with system partners and regional/national partners, promoting co-design and collaboration
* Influence and seek input from wider system partners
* Build a network of stakeholders for campaigns and initiatives
* Be the visible point of contact for external communications and engagement
* Work with colleagues at all levels, up to the Executive Team
* Connect with peers across the South East London ICS
* Advise and take decisions on informal engagement and formal consultation activities as part of service developments and organisational change
Project management
* Prioritise, plan and allocate resources for key communications and media activities
* Apply measurement criteria and evaluate activity and outcomes
Information Resources
* Produce reports and attend relevant meetings to deliver updates and advise on communications and media issues
* Prepare briefings for regulatory or internal stakeholders on complex issues
* Analyze complex statistical data to inform strategy and plans
* Undertake annual audits and surveys to evaluate the function and report findings to the Executive Management Team
Research and Development
* Keep up-to-date with best practice in media relations, marketing, brand, digital communications and public affairs
* Stay informed on national policy and partner strategies and how they impact the Trust
* Monitor emerging technologies and platforms and their potential to enhance communications
Training and Development
* Undertake mandatory training as required
* Commit to annual Development Review/appraisal and Personal Development Plan (PDP)
* Train colleagues in PR skills, media handling and social media as required
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
* Master’s level education in a relevant subject or equivalent level qualification, or significant experience at a similar level
* CIPR diploma or advanced certificate
* Professional qualification or equivalent experience in communications
Values and behaviours
* Ability to act in accordance with our values and behaviours
Other
* Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems
* Personal experience of mental health problems
Experience
* Demonstrable experience working in Communications at senior management level within a large NHS organisation or equivalent health care environment
* Experience in working with and influencing senior stakeholders, including at board level
* Experience in developing and delivering creative, effective and impactful communications strategies within the NHS
* Experience in managing relationships, briefings and events with high-profile external stakeholders (MPs, councillors, NHS chairs and CEOs, journalists)
* Experience in media management and crisis communications
* Experience in establishing collaborative working relationships with a range of stakeholders/agencies
* Experience in advising on complex/sensitive matters
* Experience in public engagement planning and delivery
* Track record in managing and developing teams and in maintaining administrative systems
* Experience in budgetary management and applying financial resources
* Experience in digital, web and social media communications
* Experience developing brands and championing brand within the organisation
* Experience working with NHS regulators
* Managing budgets, suppliers and matrix management to deliver strategic goals
Knowledge and skills
* Advanced communications skills as both practitioner and leader
* Ability to influence, present complex information and engage in high-level discussions
* Knowledge of communications techniques across NHS/health/public sector
* Skilled political operator in working with external organisations
* Developing messaging platforms for a complex stakeholder environment
* Able to lead and develop a team
* Able to evaluate outcomes, committed to innovation and improvement
* Conflict resolution and management abilities
* Strong analytical skills and judgement related to PR decisions
* Identify interdependencies, manage risks and resource requirements
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and, as such, it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
£88,250 to £100,355 per annum inclusive of HCAS
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